RYA Day Skipper / Coastal Skipper Theory Courses
Bray Sailing Club is proposing to provide RYA Day Skipper and/or Coastal Skipper theory course this autumn/winter. The courses will be run by David Jerrard of Seacraft, who many of you may already know. David is a highly experienced sailor and first-rate teacher with an almost mythical status within the sailing community. As a result, we are extremely fortunate to have secured his commitment to run the course for us in Bray.
Which Course?
The RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper shore-based courses may be of interest of those who are considering undertaking the RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper Practical Qualifications at some point in the near future or are simply interested in learning more about seamanship and modern navigation. For those of you who already possess the RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper certificate, there may be a desire to refresh your theory knowledge. The RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper Practical Qualifications are accepted by most Yacht charter companies as evidence of sufficient competency. Furthermore, many organisations who run the RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper Practical courses will issue an ICC certificate as well as the relevant RYA certificate on completion of the course, (check this before you book your practical course). The ICC is accepted as evidence of sufficient competency throughout Europe.
For those of you who are unsure about which course would be most appropriate, it should be noted that the completion of the theory exam is not a pre-requisite to being awarded the RYA Day Skipper or Coastal Skipper certificate. The requisite level of theory will need to be demonstrated during the practical (afloat) exam, but this does not require the completion of the relevant RYA theory exam, and this knowledge may have been obtained through self-study. In other words, if you already have your RYA Day Skipper certificate, but never completed the RYA Day Skipper theory course, this in no way diminishes the status of the RYA Day Skipper certificate which you have been awarded. As a result, if you fall into this bracket, you have the option of taking the RYA Day Skipper theory to refresh your existing knowledge or taking the RYA Coastal Skipper theory to prepare yourself for the next level.
Who Can Join?
These courses are open to anyone 16 or over, so may be of interest to both junior and adult members. Furthermore, these are available to anyone, not just members of the club. If you have contacts/friends in Dun Laoghaire, Poolbeg, Greystones, Arklow, Courtown or in any other club who may be interested, please feel free to let them know. If any are interested, could you please ask them to message training@braysailingclub.ie.
A summary of the two course options is shown below.
Day Skipper: This theory-based course aimed at prospective yacht skippers and inexperienced crew looking to boost their knowledge and skillset. The course itself offers a comprehensive introduction to chartwork, navigation, meteorology, and the basics of seamanship. Its goal is to help prepare you in making the key decisions needed onboard to skipper a small vessel in familiar waters.
Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore: This course covers the theory for both the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams. It includes the necessary material to allow you to be capable of confidently managing your boat on extended voyages. This course places a strong emphasis on electronic position finding equipment, taking and interpreting forecasts, plotting weather systems, and weather predictions under both sail and power.
Course Fee: €625 includes the RYA packs and the final shore-based assessments.
Deposit: €295, payable by 26th September, Balance payable by 16th October.
Deposit is non-refundable unless there are insufficient numbers to run the course. In this case all deposits will be refunded in full.
Course Requirements: Breton plotter or parallel rules and a pair of dividers (not included in course fee).
Minimum age: 16
Format: 16 x 2.5-hour sessions, 19:30pm to 22:00, 40 hours.
These will be run upstairs in the club house. Tea and coffee will be provided.
RYA rules state that candidates must attend at least 80% of the session to be eligible to pass.
This means that candidates may miss no more than 3 of the 16 sessions over the duration of the course.
Homework: Each weekly session will require around 2.5 to 3 hours of homework to be completed before the next session.
Dates:
November 2026 mid-March 2027, with courses running on either Mondays or Tuesdays.
The courses will run on Mondays or Tuesdays, TBC. Depending on the day chosen, the dates will be as follows:
Mondays: Nov 2, Nov 9, Nov 16, Nov 23, Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14, [Christmas],
Jan 11, Jan 18, Jan 25, [St. Brigit's bank holiday], Feb 8, Feb 15, Feb 22, Mar 1, Mar 8, Mar 15
Tuesdays: Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 24, Dec 1, Dec 8, Dec 15, [Christmas],
Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23, Mar 2, Mar 9
Last updated 10:48 on 29 August 2026
